We have an NS mainline within 5 minutes of our house. Every Saturday morning, I hit up the local diner for breakfast and then head to the crossing to watch, usually about 6am or so. I watch until about 7am, then head to the grocery store for donuts for the family who is still in bed.
I can see to the west about two mile before the track bends. If its clear, I can hear the train at the next previous crossing and within a minute see the headlights round the bend. If its foggy, they can sneak up on me!
For every four east-bounders, we have one west-bounder. Most west bounders have a slug tethered. Never seen a slug on a east-bounder. The spot I watch from used to be the local train station. There is sensor equipment there, so within a minute after a train passes, I can hear the report of “no defects.”
As I’ve mentioned earlier, I couldn’t help but become a railfan because of where I grew up. The South Shore was on a tall embankment and was very visible from our back yard. The CWI and NKP ducked under the South Shore at that point and, while the view was blocked, the sounds from those lines came through quite nicely. See my first sentence to know why I keep coming back to trackside.
Truth be known, one could wonder about why people are interested in any number of things, but the answer remains the same.
There’s something about industry at work that fascinates. Years ago, we had family visiting and one of the activities with the visitors was a tour of the Oldsmobile plant in Lansing, MI. Another year, as we visited family here in NY (lived in MI at the time) we made a special trip to see the locks and dams being built for the St Lawrence Power Project (ie, the Seaway). The peep holes at urban constructions sites are legendary.
And there are “side” interests as well. Many like to track locomotives, both “special” and routine. Some folks can tell you the brand of the horn. Carl is well-known for his interest in the cars and their histories. There is a regular at the Deshler rail cam who can tell you how many trains pass there on a daily basis, and I’ve compiled a sizable list of the train symbols that are seen at Deshler.
I’m lucky as my wife enjoys railfanning. So almost every Saturday we go trackside for about 4 hours. I think what draws my interest is that I’m always learning something about railroads & their operations. We receive radio traffic from detectors & Conway Yard, which is often very interesting. We also seem to see something new every week. At least, new to us. So it’s never boring as far as I’m concerned.
Enjoyable. I combine it with other things… i.e. I cycle to my favourite spot. (Bayview Junction)… which is a great place to also enjoy nature… observing wildlife, and its ground zero for alot of War of 1812 action as well. And if that’s not enough, I generally take my kids along and make an outing of it… along with maybe a good book. So the train watching gig can turn out to be alot of fun even if no trains show up… which is rare at Bayview.
I’m not a hard-core “If I don’t get out and watch trains I’ll die!” railfan, but when I do I’ll have to admit it’s because it’s the best show in town, and it’s free!
A hell of a lot better than any movies that have come out lately. Seems no-one makes movies for mature men anymore.
I combine hiking and watching the forest wildlife along Spruce Creek while watching the trains go by on the NS. Sometimes fishing there while watching the trains. The PA mountins are always beautiful and central PA is among the best.
My father fished Spruce Creek for decades. He tried to get me into fishing, but I was not a chip off the old block, at least with respect to fishing.
I lived in NYC for nearly 8 years. I regularly took the train from NYC to Altoona. When we went through the Spruce Creek tunnel, I knew that Tyrone was to follow shortly and then Altoona. We called it the Spruce Creek tunnel; I am not sure if that is the correct name.
As I remember it, the speed from Huntingdon to Tyrone was pretty slow, but after the train rounded the curve at Tyrone, he went hell bent for leather towards Altoona. We seemingly flew by Bellwood. Then a few minutes later the conductor began to sing out, Altoona, Altoona will be next, the rear door out for Altoona.
You are spot-on regarding the beauty of central Pennsylvania. The leaves should be turning shortly, and the autumn color spectacular will be something to behold.
I’ve pondered this periodically myself and have concluded the interest in trains (or ships, trucks or aircraft) is genetic.
What attracts me to railfanning now is the same thing that attracted me to fishing or bird hunting - I like being outside, enjoying the day and my surroundings. I’ve rarely been bored while out railfanning, even if I’m by myself. While waiting for the next train; I can find enjoyment in something as simple as watching a groundhog sun itself in the middle of a dirt road or deer feeding in a corn field.
I guess the trains are my excuse to be outside but; simply enjoying the day is the real reason I railfan.
If we are minding our own business and an elephant walks past, we’d soon take notice. As you say, trains are big, noisy, often move at just the right pace that they stand out compared to other items rushing past, and they look stately, maybe regal, almost like an elephant does.
It helps that they’re mechanical, resolute, seemingly purposeful, and that they cause the ground to shake if standing close. Even the air pulses around them. Anyone who has walked past a sizeable Roots blower knows what I’m talking about.
Honestly, if I knew I’d get away with it, I’d love to walk along side the tracks for a mile or two, between crossings. See whats to be seen. Would that be trespassing? Not sure of NS’ policy on that…
Growing up in a poor family, there was not money for entertainment.
My father would take me and some neighborhood kids to the UP mainline, including some switching tracks, in our town in the evening to watch the trains (and pick up unusual rocks, find treasures in junk along the track, etc.). For a real thrill, we’d catch a passenger train coming through, and I developed my dreams of traveling.
I have loved watching trains ever since.
Our town also had a small airport that had Frontier Airlines service several times a week. My father would take us to the airport when a plane was scheduled. We’d watch it land, watch the people get off and on, and then watch it take off.
Today, when I tell my kids and grandkids how we spent many of our summer evenings, they find it funny and amazing that we would spend our time that way. They have no idea how much fun we had.
ROWs are generally 60-100’ wide, so yes, that would likely be trespassing. Not that that stops a lot of people. There seem to be those who consider the tracks a public thoroughfare, and take great exception if you tell them they are not.
A woman who belongs to my toy train club had an interesting description of train watching…
“It’s like watching a parade of mastodons!”
Isn’t that something? Wish I’d thought of that!
Steve-in-kville, as long as you’re nowhere near the tracks they might not make a big deal out of it, but I wouldn’t bet on it. In this lawsuit-happy age railroads are understandably intolerant of tresspassing in any form. Best to play it safe and stay off the property.
I used to do that years ago as a kid. If you enjoy history and don’t mind walking through thick brush there’s often a treasure trove to be discovered if you walk about 10 to 15 feet from the rail. The folks who built the railroad often left stuff behind… I’ve found shovels, bottles and other small artifacts… obviously old, that have been there for over a hundred years. But, let me end by saying that one shouldn’t do that unless you’ve got permission to be on the property from the railroad.
There’s a local rail musem here, and on display they’ve got some railroad artefacts going back as far as the Civil War one of their members found along a long-abandoned right-of-way. Mind you, it wasn’t easy, he had to do some serious brush-busting and metal detecting to find them. Deep woods and yucky swamps too. Better man than I am!
I had a similar experience. On most Sunday mornings my father would take me and my brother to the 24th street turntable where we could watch the trains arriving and/or departing from Altoona. Most of the locomotives were still steam. It was a great bonding experience.
Another nice thing about watching trains is you don’t have to cheer or boo or participate in the wave.